Blackheads cause unsightly tiny dark spots to appear on your skin, and they can affect people with any skin type. They are actually caused by the hardening of masses of seburn that are formed in the sebaceous glands or ducts. They occur when seburn and dead skin cells clog the skin pores, and they can be difficult to treat. The best thing to do is to prevent them from forming, but if you already have them, there are a number of measures that you can take to get rid of them.
Daily Skin Care Routine
If you want to prevent blackheads, it is necessary that you follow a daily skin care routine. Use alcohol-free formulas and oils to wash your face two or more times a day. For serious purging, use a cleanser and toner with salicylic acid in the morning and at night. Refrain from using cleansers that make your skin overly dry, because such cleansers can cause skin breakouts and irritations.
Cleansers for Preventing Blackheads
Choosing the right facial cleansers is an important step in your endeavor to prevent or eliminate blackheads. The most effective cleansers are St. Ives Naturally Clear, Clean and Clear Continuous Acne Cleanser, Tehani Salon Cucumber Aloe Facial Wash, Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Plus Blemish Cleanser, and Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser.
Toners for Preventing Blackheads
After using a cleanser to wash your face, you have to follow-up with a good toner. A toner can ensure that your skin will stay flawless and free of blackheads and blemish. If you do not know which toner to purchase, you can try the Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Eliminating Astringent, Clean and Clear Deep Cleaning Astringent, Obagi Clenziderm MD Pore Therapy, Agera Skincare AHA Clarifying Toner, or Skin Obsession 10% Glycolic Acid Anti-Aging Toner.
Exfoliate
Other than following a daily skin care routine, you should also exfoliate your skin at least three times a week. Purchase an exfoliator and apply it to the affected areas in circular motions. The areas on your face that will most likely be affected by blackheads are the forehead, nose, and chin. Exfoliation can create a newer and smoother skin surface by unclogging pores, diminishing blemishes, and preventing breakouts. Scrubbing your skin regularly can give you a cleaner complexion, but it is not sufficient to banish blackheads. Blackheads form deep within the pores, and you need to use an exfoliator to remove them.
Exfoliators for Fighting Blackheads
Some of the recommended exfoliators for fighting blackheads are the Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub, Biore Pore Minimizing Refining Exfoliator, St. Ives Timeless Daily Microdermabrasion, Olay Professional Pro-X Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser, and Clean and Clear Blackhead Salicylic Medication. When purchasing an exfoliator, you have to make sure that it is suitable for your skin type.
Moisturize
Moisturizing your skin everyday can also help you prevent blackheads. Therefore, you should use a daytime protective moisturizer to keep your skin supple and moist. Clean and well-hydrated skin will be less susceptible to blackheads.
Moisturizers for Preventing Blackheads
There are five great moisturizers that have been proven to be effective in preventing blackheads, and they include Aveeno Ultra Calming Daily Moisturizer, Clean and Clear Oil-Free Shine Control Moisturizer, Neutrogena Healthy Defense Moisturizer, Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturizer, and La Roche Posay Effaclar Mattifying Moisturizer.
Pore Strips
Another common way to remove blackheads is pore strips. Pore strips work by pulling blackheads out of the pores on your forehead, nose, and chin, and they can also prevent your skin problems from getting worse. In order to be effective, they have to be attached to wet skin for a few minutes before they are peeled off.
Pore Strips for Removing Blackheads
A few good pore strips that are available in stores are Biore Pore Perfect Deep Cleansing Strips, NU-PORE Cleansing Strips, Earth Therapeutics Clari-T Cleaning Strips, Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Pore Fix, and Almay Hypo-Allergenic Stay Clean Medicated Pore Strips.
Vitamins
Consuming vitamins can also help you fight blackheads. You can pay a visit to a dermatologist and ask him or her to prescribe vitamins that are effective in eliminating and preventing blackheads, such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C. These vitamins can increase skin cell turnover and make your pores less vulnerable to clogging by old skin cells.
Vitamins for Improving Facial Skin Health
Vitamins for facial skin can come in the form of serums or supplements. Five great products that will give you beautiful facial skin are Avalon Vitamin C Serum; Spring Valley Hair, Skin, and Nails Collagen Support Vitamins; Now Foods E-Oil; Retinol Vitamin A Cream; and Nature’s Gate Organics C for Yourself.
Steam
Steaming can remove blackheads by loosening debris that is embedded in your skin. It can also cleanse your face and control blemish, and it is a great technique for those who have oily or combination skin. To do steaming, you have to boil a pan of water first. Then, place a towel over your head and stand directly over the pan, so that your face will come into contact with the steam. After steaming, wrap your fingers with a piece of tissue and try to squeeze the blackheads out by pressing gently on both sides.
Facial Steamers
Some of the best facial steamers that are available in the market include Conair Facial Sauna Systems, SkinAct Facial Steamer Ozone Aromatherapy, Revlon Ionic Facial Sauna, Belson Profiles Facial Sauna Steamer, and Brand New Ionic Skin Anti-Aging Moisturizing Facial Steamer.
Masks and Peels
You can also use masks and peels to prevent blackheads from forming or make them look less visible. These products can remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells, as well as tighten pores on your face.
Masks for Treating Blackheads
Masks that are great for treating blackheads include Clean and Clear Blackhead Cleansing, Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser, Avon Clearskin Blackhead Eliminating Treatment, Freeman Facial Purifying Masque, and The Face Shop Blackhead Ex Nose Clay Mask.
Peels for Removing Blackheads
Effective peels for removing blackheads include Skin Laboratory Salicylic Acid Peel Professional; Skin Obsession 40% Glycolic Acid for Acne, Scars, Age Spots, and Lines; Freeman Cucumber Facial Peel Off Mask; Skin Beauty Solutions Salicylic Acid Skin Chemical Peel; and Queen Helene Peel Off Mask Grape Seed Extract.
Make-Up
Make-up can cause oil and dirt to build up in your pores, and make it more difficult for your skin to breathe. As such, you have to make sure that you remove all your make-up before you go to bed and wash your face whenever you can. It is a good idea to use a mineral-based foundation.
Mineral-Based Foundations
Recommended mineral-based foundations include BareMinerals Original Foundation, L’Oreal Paris True Match Mineral Foundation, Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation, Revlon ColorStay Mineral Foundation, and CoverGirl TruBlend Mineral Foundation.